Eileen Mary LYNCH

Notes:

Eileen Mary Lynch was known for innovation during her nearly 40 years teaching political science in the Dallas County Community College District.

In the early 1970s, she and another Eastfield College faculty member assigned sophomore government students to learn outside the classroom by researching candidates and topics. Her later innovations included an award-winning televised learning course.

Lynch, 87, died Sept. 6 of natural causes at her Addison home.

A celebration of her life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Drive in Farmers Branch.
Lynch was strong-willed and “loved to laugh, deep and hardy,” said her son Steve Arndt of Addison. “She could laugh at herself and she could laugh at the absurdities of life, just as quickly.

“If someone asked for help, she would have no problem being the first to step up and support them; however, if she was told what to do, she tended to get a little stubborn and wouldn’t necessarily go there.”

Lynch taught for years under a married name, Arndt. She was on the Eastfield College faculty from 1971 until transferring to Brookhaven College. She was 81 when she retired in 2009.

In 1971, she and Jacqueline Burden sent Eastfield students out to research government in action.

Later, for a video-learning program, Lynch followed a delegate from the beginning to the national convention. She started a coordinated studies program at Brookhaven that integrated core disciplines. She was also involved with preparing numerous textbooks.

In 1982, she was Brookhaven’s Educator of the Year.

Lynch was born Patricia Ann Lynch in Seattle. Ten days later, her mother renamed her Eileen Mary Lynch. Before her 10th birthday, the family moved to Two Rivers, Wis., where she graduated from high school.

She attended the University of Wisconsin for two years, working summers at Sharpe’s Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wis., where she met her future husband, Terry Arndt, the son of the owners. The couple married in 1947 and moved to East Lansing, Mich., and Milwaukee, before moving to Dallas in 1957.

She resumed her education, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas.

In 1967, the Arndts divorced. She moved to East Texas, where she started teaching at Tyler Junior College while completing her master’s thesis.

In December 1969, she returned to Dallas. She taught part time at community colleges in Tarrant and Collin counties, as well as UNT, where she completed her doctoral degree.

Lynch married again, to Charles Ellingboe, her first love from Wisconsin.

“They were only married for three or four years, then she divorced him, because he was trying to tell her what to do,” her son said. “They actually got along better after they divorced, because she called him three or four times every day until he died.”

In addition to her son, Lynch is survived by two daughters, Susan Bingham of Virginia and Laurey Lynch of Dallas; three other sons, Terry Arndt of El Paso, Tim Arndt of Austin and Michael Francis Arndt of Addison; stepchildren Charles Ellingboe of Wrightstown, Wis., and Sarah Ellingboe of Menomonee Falls, Wis.; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

The following is her obit in Find A Grave in an entry created by her niece Patty Guthrie:

Initially name Patricia Ann but later changed to Eileen Mary LYNCH, Ph.D, Eileen M. A pioneering teacher, activist, futurist, feminist, adventurer, eternal optimist; mother, grandmother, aunt: was a family's princess and a people's "Eileen the Queen." Eileen, 87, died September 6, 2015 the way she lived, "her way", at home peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. Eileen was born in Seattle on March 22, 1928. Eileen was a Professor of Political Science for 42 years starting in 1967 at Tyler Jr. College and ending at DCCCD's Brookhaven College and won numerous awards for her work. Eileen was a force in this world. Through her probing intelligence and positive radiance, those that knew her saw clearer and deeper. Forever the optimist, she had the power to bolster one's soul during the most difficult times and encouraged everyone to be the best they could be. From kissing the Blarney Stone to the 1982 Educator of the Year Award to always finding the good in everyone she met, Eileen lived an extraordinary life and always exhibited extraordinary behavior throughout her life. Eileen is survived by her children: Susan Bingham, Terry Arndt and wife Maggie, Steven Arndt and wife Joy, Laurey Lynch, Tim Arndt and wife Amy and Michael Francis Arndt; step-children Charles Ellingboe and wife Marti and Sarah Ellingboe; 9 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchil-dren and 5 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and loving friends.

Eileen married Terry ARNDT in 1947, and was divorced in 1967. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Eileen married Charles Edward ELLINGBOE, Sr on 3 Jan 2004 in Dallas County, Texas, and was divorced on 4 Feb 2008 in Dallas County, Texas. Charles (son of Edward F ELLINGBOE and Clara KRAINEK) was born on 20 May 1927 in Two Rivers, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin; died on 26 Jun 2011 in Two Rivers, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin; was buried on 9 Jul 2011 in Jambo Creek Cemetery, Gibson Twp, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Committed suicide by leaping in front of a freight train in Corsicana, Texas.

John married Francisca Apollonia (Frances) TICE on 8 Nov 1924 in King County, Washington. Francisca was born about 1894 in Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Frances left her husband in about 1936 and moved with her children back to Wisconsin. In the 1940 census, she was a 46 year-old widow living in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. She was employed as an elementary school teacher. She and her children had lived in Seattle in 1935.